Newcastle 2-1 Brentford: Sandro Tonali wondergoal gives Eddie Howe’s side crucial win in race for Champions League as they rise to fifth
21:44 BST 02 Apr 2025, updated 22:42 BST 02 Apr 2025
Newcastle hosted Brentford in their first game since winning the Carabao Cup
Sandro Tonali and Alexander Isak goals helped the Magpies win the game 2-1
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The Lord Mayor’s Show packed up and left town a few days ago but this was no anti-climax, even if Newcastle did have to wait until late for Sandro Tonali to emerge as the headline act.
On the back of Saturday’s Carabao Cup bus-parade party, Eddie Howe told his players they might have to grind out victories between now and the end of the season in their pursuit of Champions League football. Not everything would be as glorified as Wembley wins over Liverpool and the celebrations that followed, he warned.
Tonali disproved that theory with a goal of ridiculous quality and even greater audacity. So ridiculous, in fact, no-one inside St James’ Park expected the Italian to take on the angle presented to him on the right touchline. Only he saw the possibility of the shot, and by the time goalkeeper Mark Flekken saw it, it was too late. Tonali was modest afterwards and attributed some of his goal to good fortune.
But Howe said: ‘I have seen him practising from that angle the last few weeks. Let me tell you, he can strike a ball. I fear for our goalkeeper’s wrists sometimes in training. That was a big goal and big win for us.’
Thomas Frank had a different take.
‘Tonali told me it was a cross,’ said the Brentford boss. ‘It was one in a million. We deserved more.’
Sandro Tonali’s wondergoal secured the win in their first game since the Carabao Cup triumph
Tonali’s audacious effort from a tight angle near the corner flag beat Bees No 1 Mark Flekken
Tonali’s strike – be it cross or shot – returned Newcastle to the top five, even though this display was not entirely convincing.
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Alexander Isak was out of sorts, despite becoming the only Newcastle player to score 20 goals in consecutive Premier League seasons when heading a first-half opener.
Bryan Mbuemo levelled with a second-half penalty and a draw that would have been fair seemed likely.
But, like Howe had said, his team would have to find different ways to win, and Tonali did that all right.
The last time Newcastle returned to play at home after winning a trophy, the first moon landing of 1969 was still in the news. Well, the first half here had the feel of the Geordies coming back down to earth – at least until Isak sent them back into orbit in stoppage-time.
The striker had played as if wearing Neil Armstrong’s moon boots for most of the opening period. Just seconds before his goal, he went clear but seemed caught in a million minds.
In the end, the convoluted avenue he ventured down – a series of feints and a chip to Harvey Barnes – left his team-mate offside when he turned in from a few yards out.
It looked like that would mark the end of an unhappy half. After a bright start, fuelled by lingering adrenaline and pre-match flags celebrating history made, they faded. Come the 45th minute, the only thing of sparkle inside St James’ was the Carabao Cup itself.
Alexander Isak had earlier opened the scoring as the Swede continued his brilliant season
Isak finished with aplomb from Jacob Murphy’s cross after a brilliant Newcastle team move
Bryan Mbeumo had levelled from the penalty spot after Yoane Wissa was fouled inside the area
Then, Isak illuminated the place, as he so often does. Murphy crossed from the right and, when forward Mbuemo slipped inside a six-yard area he should not have been in to begin with, Isak pounced to head home.
The scorer and creator both missed decent chances early in the second half and Brentford took heart. From attempting to land the knockout blow, Newcastle were suddenly on the ropes.
There was an inevitability about what followed in the 66th minute when Mbuemo clipped a ball in behind and Yoane Wissa took the invitation of a sliding Nick Pope to topple over the goalkeeper. Mbuemo duly slotted in from the spot.
Pope then made an injury-time block from Nathan Collins, atoning for that error of judgement. But it was Tonali’s judgement that stole the show.
MATCH FACTS: NEWCASTLE 2-1 BRENTFORD
NUFC (4-3-3): Pope 6.5; Trippier 7, Schar 6.5, Burn 6.5, Livramento 7.5; Guimaraes 7, Tonali 8, Joelinton 7; Murphy 6.5 (Willock 66, 6), Isak 6.5 (Wilson 66, 6), Barnes 7
Subs: Dubravka, Krafth, Osula, Longstaff, Miley, Neave, Shahar
Manager: Eddie Howe 6.5
Scorers: Isak 45+1, Tonali 74
Bookings: Schar
BFC (4-2-3-1): Flekken 5.5; Van den Berg 6, Collins 6, Pinnock 5, Lewis-Potter 6.5; Norgaard 6, Janelt 5 (Damsgaard 59); Mbuemo 6, Yarmoliuk 5.5, Schade 5; Wissa 6
Subs: Valdimarsson, Mee, Kayode, Kim, Ajer, Konak, Maghoma, Morgan
Manager: Thomas Frank 5.5
Scorers: Mbuemo 66 (pen)
Bookings: Lewis-Potter
Ref: P Bankes 7
Att: 52,021
MOM: Tonali
